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Medical Marijuana

What are the Health Benefits of Medical Cannabis?

The scientific studies demonstrating the positive effects of marijuana treatment are becoming more and more prominent in mainstream science. More and more people are opening their eyes up to the possibilities that are available from marijuana and the extracts from it. What we are seeing is that the cannabinoids present in marijuana are even more potent healers than was first suspected.

With studies conducted all the time and new theories proven correct what we will be able to achieve with marijuana in future is as yet untapped. Whether it’s regular cannabis strains or non-high inducing CBD let’s look at seven ways marijuana could help you that you might not have considered before. A large part of the reason that medical marijuana is so helpful to us is because of the endocannabinoid system.

The Endocannabinoid System

Throughout the body, we have what is called the Endocannabinoid System. This is a network of cell receptors and corresponding molecules that exist throughout the body. It is made up of two different kinds of receptors which are the CB1 and the CB2 receptors. The first kind is primarily located in the brain and the central nervous system, these are known as CB1 receptors. The other kind of receptors, known as CB2 receptors, are commonly found in the immune system.

These cannabinoid receptors have a wide array of functions. For example, sleep, mood, motor control, pain, memory, and immune responses. Naturally, these wide-ranging processes help to maintain an optimal function within our bodies.

Reduces Inflammation

Perhaps the most well known of medical marijuana’s effects is its anti-inflammatory properties. They’re so potently effective that in recent times even pro athletes have turned to the powerful healing factors of medical cannabis products. For example, CBD rich oils are used to combat pain and devastation inflicted on their bodies during intense training or in competitions. Often because of extreme stress joints can develop painful inflammation and CBD combats this. Joint inflammation also occurs because of chronic diseases like arthritis. In several studies, CBD proved effective in treating this.

It follows then that this would also be helpful for those suffering from other common ailments and not just limited to those on the extreme ends of the spectrum. In fact, skin diseases such as rosacea and psoriasis can be treated successfully by using CBD products. And because of the effects that CBD has on serotonin levels in the body it can also be used to counteract the negative psychological effects and stresses that having such conditions can produce.

Stops Developing Cancer

Cannabis is already widely used in the treatment of pain and nausea during chemotherapy but can it prevent cancer outright? Well, some scientists think that yes it might. In studies done involving mice, cannabis has been shown to have chemoprevention properties.

Researchers found that when rodents were given an injection of pure CBD (cannabidiol) they were less likely to develop colon cancer even after being induced with the disease. Obviously, this is still in a developmental phase but the potential it has to help the millions of people all over the world who suffer from cancer is monumental.

Eases Digestion

As we’ve said the endocannabinoid system exists throughout the body. The receptors that contribute to it respond exceptionally when medical cannabis is introduced. One of these receptors is called anandamide, it resides within the digestive tract and is responsible for the digestive processes. Perhaps for reasons like this, it’s not hard to see why those who regularly indulge in THC get ‘the munchies’.

But in a more serious sense for those suffering from chronic bowel conditions the presence of such a receptor might be a real blessing. Studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory properties contained in medical cannabis might be vital in treating conditions such as IBS and Crohn’s disease.

Prevents Heart Disease

One of the little-known effects of medical cannabis is its potential for heart disease treatment. Small doses of the THC are able to relax and also widen the blood vessels. This process is known as vasorelaxation and is probably best demonstrable in the reddened eyes of those who regularly smoke marijuana.

Because of these widened blood vessels, naturally, the blood tends to flow a little easier. It’s not difficult to see how this could be perfect preventative medicine for those liable to suffer from clogged arteries in their hearts. Of course, we’re not encouraging behaviour that would lead to such life-threatening conditions but it’s good to know.

Can Slow Down the Aging Process

Of the many benefits from medical cannabis, this might well be the most exciting one. In the University of Bonn and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, researchers have found new information that might mean that naturally fading cognitive abilities in later years might no longer need to be the case. Using mice of various ages as their test subjects, they experimented by giving them small doses of THC. After that, they then tasted them on their learning capacities and memories. What they found was incredible.

Mice that were given placebos displayed normal age-appropriate brain function while the mice that had been dosed with THC showed improved cognitive ability. The older mice showed brain function similar to the two-month-old group. Of course, human trials are yet to be undertaken but it’s very clear that this will have devastatingly positive effects on the ailments we’ve long taken for granted as just part of growing older. Whether it’s Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s the possibilities are quite exciting.

Benefit from Medical Cannabis Today

With a body of knowledge that is growing every single day medical cannabis is set to take a huge leap into the mainstream culture very soon. A day is coming very soon when the mere mention of ‘cannabis’ won’t simply raise eyebrows and sceptical questions. With all this vast knowledge, soon the evidence will be undeniable. But there’s no need to wait until then to reap the benefits of this kind of medicine. There are plenty of ways to obtain medical cannabis and you should avail of them. Speak to your doctor today or even do some research for yourself online. This list is by no means comprehensive and with so much information abounding online and in publication it would take much more space to really make a dent. But the bottom line is that

Thousands of people with pre-existing conditions are finding that medical marijuana may be the best way to treat their symptoms. Conditions from cancer to IBS can be treated effectively by medical marijuana. While the benefits of cannabis have won over a lot of patients many people are still undecided.

This could be down to the traditional image of cannabis consumption, which has permeated pop culture for decades as the purview of unkempt stoners. It’s understandable if a 57-year-old accountant called Agness is hesitant to take cannabis for her chronic pain when her only point of reference is Jay and Silent Bob skinning up on screen and staggering around like clowns.

There is much more to consuming dry herb than a hand-rolled joint with a damp roach. Let's explore some of the methods of consuming dry herb that may suit those seeking its medicinal benefits.

Dabs

Medicinal users may be cautious of cannabis due to the perception that they’ll have to consume a substantial amount over an extended amount of time in order to receive the correct dose of THC and other cannabinoids. A solution to this is using dabs, a concentrated form of cannabis extract that can pack more THC into less material.

Dabs are created by a process of solvent-based concentration. This process works by using a solvent, usually butane, to literally push the active ingredients (called cannabinoids) out of cannabis. After this is done a vacuum pump is used to extract the butane, creating dabbing concentrate. This will take one of three forms: Oil; a viscous concentrate and the weakest of the three forms. Wax; a sticky and crumbly concentrate that resembles bee’s wax. The purest type of dabbing concentrate is shatter; a brittle, candy-like concentrate that contains the highest level of concentrate.

Dabbing concentrates are consumed with a specialized dabbing kit. This kit typically contains a waterpipe for cooling, a nail, and a butane torch to heat the nail. The nail is often heated to an incredibly high temperature to ensure that the concentrate is vaporized instantly when it is dropped on.

The advantage of dabbing concentrates is their sheer potency. A single dab hit will have the equivalent of several joints-worth of THC, allowing a patient to quickly find the correct dose for the relief they need.

Edibles

Edibles are a well-established way to consume cannabis. As the medicinal advantages of cannabis become more well-known edibles are evolving beyond dry brownies hastily whipped up in a messy kitchen. Edibles are a great way to consume cannabis for people who want to avoid harsh smoke. They are easy to consume and gradually enter a user’s system over time. However, if a patient is looking for instant relief then edibles may not be for them, the active ingredients take some time to enter the body through the stomach lining. Another risk presented by edibles is overdose. It takes time for edibles to have an effect on a patient's body, and in that time it’s easy to sneak another brownie!

Bongs

Bongsare a classic and well-known way to consume cannabis. There’s a very good reason for their fame, it's down to the huge, cool hits delivered by a good bong. Bongs work by using a water reservoir to cool the smoke of a hit and make it easier and more enjoyable to inhale. Many bongs come equipped with percolators, glass tubes that break the smoke that passes through them into smaller bubbles, increasing their surface area and cooling it more effectively.

Bongs are ideal for patients who want to enjoy the benefits of cannabis but with a smoother, easier to ingest hit

Marijuana Vaporizer

One of the more recent innovations in medical cannabis consumption is the marijuana vaporizer. The main advantage of marijuana vaporizersis that they allow patients to consume cannabis without the acrid smoke or carcinogens released by combustion. Vaporizers work by taking advantage of the boiling points of the active ingredients in cannabis. It heats them, boiling them off into a smooth vapor that contains none of the toxins and carcinogens that are found in smoke.

There are two main methods of vaporization: Conduction and convection. Conduction is more commonly found in portable vaporizers like the Firefly 2. Conduction works by directly heating your cannabis with an electronic heating system. The surface area of the cannabis is heated directly by the heating system much in the same way as a kitchen stove works. One of the main advantages of conduction vaporization is its rapid heat up time, this makes it perfect for frequent, quick doses when you’re out and about.

The second main method of vaporization is convection. Convection works by heating the air surrounding your dry herb and gradually extracting the vapor out of it thoroughly. Convection works much like a fan oven, baking a thick and delicious vapor out of your dry herb. Convection heating systems often take up a bit more space than conduction and thus is more often found in desktop vaporizers like the Volcano from Storz & Bickel. Convection heating is great for longer sessions with denser, more potent, and tasty vapor.

Overall, vaporizers allow patients to enjoy all the advantages and effects of medical cannabis without any of the unhealthy and harsh smoke produced by combustion.

There are many ways for patients to enjoy the benefits of medical cannabis. Licensed medical professionals and patients alike should familiarize themselves with all of them in order to find what works best.

I don’t think I am making a controversial statement here by saying that weed is probably safer than tobacco. Sure, we are still producing minor carcinogens when combusting cannabis—but without all of the gross additives in cigarettes.

Aside from the big one (cancer), smoking cigarettes can cause a whole plethora of other problems, one being Thromboangiitis obliterans (TO), a disease that displays itself as the clotting of capillary blood vessels in the arteries/veins of our digits (fingers and toes) from inflammation of surrounding tissue. A case study out of Israel found that extensive use of cannabis reversed the effects of TO.

Before we get into the nuts and bolts of how cannabis may be doing this, let’s quickly go over some of the medical terms we will be seeing. Though the patient exhibited signs of Buerger disease (another name for TO), it was found because of what is called ischemia.

There has always been some disconnect between veterans and medical marijuana.

Although there has been plenty of evidence to suggest cannabis would be beneficial to veterans for a wide array of ailments, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has been reluctant to allow their doctors to formally recommend it as a treatment option. However, as the VA rolls out a new medical marijuana policy tor vets, it appears doctors are now permitted to at least discuss potential use with their patients.

A New Medical Marijuana Policy For Vets

No, VA doctors are still not permitted to recommend medicinal cannabis to their veteran patrons. However, under the new guidelines, doctors can discuss the possibility with their patients, who can then get a formal recommendation from another doctor.

It all starts with the victim, A.G., or otherwise known as “Ghost,” a man with a cartel bounty on his head. According to FBI reports, A.G. “had been involved in both alien smuggling and trafficking marijuana for the past few years.” A.G. estimated that he had partaken in around 30 such incidents over the years.

A 54-year-old criminal, Roxanne “Rocky” Marie Carpenter, was an acquaintance of Ghost’s and was approached by the cartel after, according to Carpenter’s testimony, an undisclosed amount of marijuana in which Ghost was responsible for went missing. According to a court filing from Carpenter’s attorney, the cartel showed up at the defendant’s home with AK-47 assault rifles, demanding the whereabouts of Ghost.

“They were looking for the marijuana for which Ghost was responsible,” the report noted.

Carpenter then began negotiations regarding Ghost’s bounty. The initial asking price was for $37,000, but Carpenter would also have to produce the missing marijuana to receive that reward. The cartel then reportedly offered a truck, but Carpenter declined.

Over a year ago, the majority of voters across the Sunshine State put their seal of approval on a ballot initiative designed to legalize medical marijuana. Since then, there has been nothing but trouble. The state has failed to complete every aspect of the program in a manner that suggests they are taking the law seriously.

Right now, the complaint is about licensing.

The state was supposed to issue 10 cultivation permits by the beginning of October. However, it remains uncertain when that will actually happen. So far, authorities have only approved six licenses. It is for this reason that Miami grower, Bill’s Nursery, and epilepsy patient Michael Bowen are suing the state in federal court.

Their goal? To pressure officials with the Department of Health to get their act together.